Scottish Government announce pupil equity funding

Highland Schools to receive £4 million pounds directly, to close the attainment gap

The Pupil Equity Funding is additional funding allocated directly to schools and targeted at closing the poverty related attainment gap.
The Scottish Government has committed to this funding as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge programme from 2017-18.
The Pupil Equity Funding forms part of the £750m Attainment Scotland Fund.
National guidance is intended to help schools plan how they will most effectively invest their Pupil Equity Funding allocation to improve the educational outcomes of children affected by poverty. Local authorities will issue complementary guidance about how the funding will operate locally.

The funding allocation is based on each school’s “Free School Meal” entitlement. For every child registered and authorised to receive free school meals, that school will directly receive £1200 per child!

*extract from School level allocations

The decision on how to spend this money will be given directly to the Head Teacher, however there will be guidance both Nationally and from the Local Authority.
We would also recommend that Parent Council Chairs ensure positive, collaborative communication with their Head Teacher in advance of this allocation, to ensure the right decisions are being made for the whole school community.